I don't post over here much, I'm usually on Working Moms, but I am hoping that someone here has advice for me. My 16 month old hits me. Like hard. In the face. She laughs at me and thinks it is funny when I discipline her for it. I have tried various methods that I have read about - saying "ouch!" loudly and telling her that "we don't hit" - a firm "NO" - two minute time outs. None of it works. She continues to do it and cracks up like it is the funniest thing ever.
Any ideas on how to stop this behavior?
Duke's House: Eating and Running with the Big Dog in Chennai: eatrunbrit.com
2010 Race PRs:
5K - 24:57 10M - 1:28:20 13.1M - 1:57:29 26.2M - 4:28:29
Re: 16 month old hits me and thinks its funny
Baby 2 EDD 7-18-14
I did the walk away thing during one her her hitting episodes last night. It made her really upset, which is guess is the goal in some twisted way. I guess I will continue that approach as much as possible. Sometimes it just isn't realistic to do that, like if she is in the bath tub (like she was during one of her outbursts last night) or when we are trying to leave for work/daycare.
Ugh. I hate that I have to deal with this.
Duke's House: Eating and Running with the Big Dog in Chennai: eatrunbrit.com
2010 Race PRs:
5K - 24:57 10M - 1:28:20 13.1M - 1:57:29 26.2M - 4:28:29
However when he was doing it willfully and laughing about it, I got more serious. It only happened twice, and both times we were sitting on the bed together and playing. Both times when the hitting escalated and he wouldn't stop, I picked him up and put him on the floor, away from me while I stayed up on the bed. I said sternly No, no hit mama. Both times he started crying. I think it was the physical removal that made him realize I was serious. After a minute I gently explained that we don't hit and that it gives mama ouch. DS is almost 2 now and we haven't had a problem since.
For us, both "ouch" and a stern "no" elicit more laughing. So I know how you are feeling!
I give her one chance by saying "gentle touch," and showing her that she can touch my face gently and nicely. If she hits me again, I get up and walk away and remove myself from the situation. This seems to work best for us.